Improvement in rein-supporters



O. T. GRILLEY. Rein-Supporters.

I No.217,688. Patntedluly 22,1879.

' setts, have invented an Improvement in Reindropping or sagging so asto be caught upon UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGEJ.

CHARLES T. GRILLEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT lN RElN-SUPPORTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 217,688, dated July 22,1879; application filed June 16, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. CHAS. T. GRILLEY, of

Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachu- Supporters, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification.

This invention relates to supports for driving-reins, whereby they areprevented from the ends of the shafts or parts of the harness; andconsists in a metallic rein-support shaped to resemble an arch, andhaving ends to bear upon the neck-strap of the breast-collar, the saidends being provided at their under sides with screw-threaded holes toreceive screws passed through the neck-strap from the under side, thesaid screws attaching the said supports firmly to the said strap.

Some manufacturers of harnesses provide the neck-strap at each side theshoulders of the horse with leather loops sewed to the said neck-strapsto guide and support the reins but said leather loops soon get out ofshape by wear and the action of the weather, and become gummed by reasonof oil, and the lines fail to render easily through them. These leatherloops were used some years ago more frequently than now, their use atthe present time being generally discarded because of sticking betweenthe leather loop and rein.

Neck-straps have been provided with several standards riveted thereon,and connected at their upper ends by means of a metal band riveted uponthe standards, the said band being extended over the withers of thehorse for nearly the entire length of the neck-band; but suchrim-supports are more expensive than mine, and cannot be as easilyapplied to a new or old harness, and when once applied are a fixture,for, being riveted on the strap, they cannot be changed in position.

Figure 1 represents, in perspective, a breastcollar neck-strap providedwith my rein-supports 5 and Fig. 2, a side elevation of one of therein-supports.

The rein-support a is shown as composed of a gracefully-curved arch ofmetal, having ends or enlarged bases 1) to rest upon the neckstrap 0,the said ends being of greater or less area and more or less ornamented.At their under faces the said ends have holes d tapped partially throughthe guides to receive the fine-threaded screws 0, they being extendedthrough the neck-strap into the said screwholes, the said screwsattaching the rein-supports firmly but removably to the said neckstrap.

These supports may be of metal, which may be coated or plated withsilver, gold, or nickel, as usual, or be covered with leather, hardrubber, celluloid, or other usual material.

The space 9 between the support and the neck-strap is amply sufficientto permit the easy introduction of the reins, and allow them free playbetween the top or arch of the supportand the back-strap.

These supports, besides being very useful and durable, may be easilyapplied by any person,and are highly ornamented, and, being attached byscrews, may be so adjusted upon the neck-strap as to be placed in theproper position for a horse carrying his head either high or low, sothat when driving the lines shall not act against the ends of thesupport to lift the neck-strap.

The under sides of the screw-heads are tapered, so that the force of thescrew may easily embed its head below the surface of the inner side ofthe neck-strap, thereby preventing chafing or cutting the neck of thehorse, as would be'the case were it riveted to the strap.

I claim As an improved article of manufacture, a metallic rein-support,having its ends adapted to rest upon the upper side of the neck-strap,and provided with screw-threaded holes tapped into the said ends fromtheir under sides to receive screws by which to attach the support tothe neck-strap, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES T. GRILLEY.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, J os. P. LIvERMoRE.

